ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Post-graduate Department of Philosophy was started by the Karnatak University in 1957 during the tenure of Wrangler Dr. D. C. Pavate as the Vice-Chancellor. The Department has grown over the years into a full-fledged and well-staffed set-up. During the span of its lifetime the Department has had the privilege of guidance by distinguished scholars as Chairmen of the Department: Prof. K. J. Shah, M.A. (Cantab.) was the first Head of the Department. Subsequently, some other Chairmen whose academic contributions are significant for the integral development of the Department were: Dr.T.G. Kalghatgi, M.A., Ph.D.; Dr. L. C. Mullatti, M.A., Ph.D., (British Columbia); Dr. N. G. Mahadevappa, M.A., Ph.D., (Mysore); Dr.R.I. Ingalalli, M.A. Ph.D.; Dr.B.P. Siddhshrama, M.A., Ph.D.; Dr. M. A. Jalihal, M.A., Ph.D.(Bombay); Dr.K.V. Juktimath, M.A., Ph.D., and Dr.B.H. Gujalar, M.A., Ph.D.

               Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), New Delhi, in its “Country Report’’ (published as Philosophy In India: Traditions, Teaching and Research, 1985) prepared for UNESCO, has appreciated the Department of Philosophy, Karnatak University, Dharwad, as one of the reputed Departments in India. Further ICPR also makes the following observation (p.125): “In Karnatak University, Department at Dharwad, the emphasis has been on Analytic Philosophy, and now it is on Symbolic Logic; important work has been accomplished in the former. A Professor there has studied Gandhism and Shastras (Dharma, Artha, Saundarya and Moksa) in an analytic way”. And that Professor. K.J. Shah, pointed out that the materials for living philosophy have to be provided by our life, that it is necessary to create “the real dialogue” between life, Indian and Western philosophies. What is alive in Indian Philosophy is, he said, determined by what problems are alive today; and problems are primarily defined by function and not by technique (193).

       Eminent persons like Charles Hartshorne, H.Palmer from England and Karel Werner have visited the Department and delivered their lectures. Also reputed Indian scholars like Profs. Rajendra Prasad, N.K.Devaraj, S.S. Barlingay, K.Satchidananda Murthy, S.S. Raghavachar, Prof. Srivivas Rao, Justice S.R.Bannurmath, Justice Shivaraj.V.Patil, Yoga Guru Baba Ramadev, etc., delivered thought provoking lectures. And in most of the lectures, there were serious and fruitful discussions.